Choosing a Respite Worker for Someone Living with Dementia: 12 Questions to Ask

The person who comes to your home for respite will spend hours alone with someone you love. It's worth asking a few direct questions before you say yes. A good respite worker will be glad you asked.

Here are the questions I'd ask, and what a good answer sounds like.

Checks and cover

1. "Can I see your police check?" Look for a National Police Check with a recent date. Ask to see it, not just hear about it.
2. "Do you have worker screening?" An NDIS Worker Screening clearance shows a government check of the person's history for working with vulnerable people.
3. "Are you insured?" Ask about public liability and professional indemnity insurance, and ask to see the certificate of currency.
4. "Is your first aid current?" First aid and CPR certificates have expiry dates. Check them.

Training and experience

5. "What training do you have?" A Certificate III in Individual Support covers the foundations of care work. Ask where they trained and whether it included ageing.
6. "Have you spent time with people living with dementia?" Ask what that looked like, such as a placement in residential aged care or previous clients.

How they work

7. "Will it be you every time?" For someone living with dementia, a familiar face matters. Agencies may send whoever is available, so ask directly.
8. "What do you do, and what don't you do?" A clear answer is a good sign. Companionship, personal care and medication are different services, and a good worker will be plain about which they provide.
9. "What do you do if they become unsettled?" Listen for calm, practical answers about following routines and what usually helps. Be wary of anyone who talks about "managing" or "handling" your loved one.
10. "What happens in an emergency?" They should know who to call and in what order, and have your emergency contacts written down before the first visit.

Money and commitment

11. "What will it cost, all in?" Ask for the hourly rate, any minimum visit length, and whether weekends, public holidays or travel cost more.
12. "Is there a contract, and what's the cancellation policy?" You should be able to try a visit without signing up for months.

Trust your instincts

After the paperwork, watch how they are with your loved one. Do they slow down, make eye contact, and speak to them rather than about them? That first meeting will tell you a lot.

My answers

National Police Check, NDIS Worker Screening, current First Aid and CPR, and $10M public liability and professional indemnity insurance. I bring the certificates to the meet-and-greet. I hold a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) from RMIT, including a 120-hour placement in residential aged care. I do every visit myself. My visits are companionship, not personal care, medication or driving. It's $60 an hour with a 2-hour minimum, the same hourly rate every day, with no contracts and free cancellation with 24 hours' notice.